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Randall V. Johnston
Randall V. Johnston
Partner — National Security Reviews (CFIUS), Export Controls & Economic Sanctions
E: rjohnston@velaw.com T: +1.202.639.6584
VCard BIO PDF
Partner — National Security Reviews (CFIUS), Export Controls & Economic Sanctions

Randall V. Johnston

Randall V. Johnston
Washington, D.C.
T: +1.202.639.6584

2200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Suite 500 West
Washington, D.C. 20037

E: rjohnston@velaw.com
VCard BIO PDF
start quote symbolGovernment review of foreign investment for national security reasons is an increasingly important part of a growing number of deals. Coordinating filings across multiple jurisdictions can be essential to successful deal closings. I have guided clients through these regulatory processes in multiple jurisdictions in connection with dozens of deals. I am dedicated to minimizing the impact of national security and trade control issues on my clients’ transactions.end quote symbol
Randall V. Johnston

Randall Johnston is a partner in Vinson & Elkins’ National Security Reviews (CFIUS) and Export Controls & Economic Sanctions practice group, with years of experience guiding clients through national security and investment law processes prior to closing international transactions.

Randall has advised on thousands of transactions, including in national security reviews before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), as well as on matters relating to sanctions, export controls, customs, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the Freedom of Information Act. Her recent CFIUS experience includes negotiating complex National Security Agreements with CFIUS involving Chinese-owned acquirers.

Randall has become a leading practitioner on global laws relating to national security review and foreign investment (or FDI) filings triggered by cross-border transactions, and is noted for efficiently quarterbacking FDI filings across multiple jurisdictions, including for dozens of multi-million and multi-billion dollar transactions. She also provides practical structural advice in relation to CFIUS and FDI matters. In particular, Randall is known for providing “a very high level of strategic support” (Legal 500 2022).

Experience Highlights

  • Francisco Partners and TPG in $6.5 billion take-private of New Relic

  • I.G. Capital in its acquisition of Segers

  • CWT US, LLC in agreement to be acquired by Global Business Travel Group in $570 million transaction

  • Industrial Growth Partners in the sale of Des-Case

  • Wynnchurch Capital in the sale of Midland Industries

  • STG in $1.4 billion take-private of Avid Technology

  • Francisco Partners and Forcepoint in sale of its G2CI Business to TPG

  • Quotient Technology, Inc. in $430 million business combination with Neptune Retail Solutions

  • Vector Capital in Acquisition of Riverbed Technology

Credentials

  • New York University School of Law, J.D., 2013
  • Swarthmore College, B.A., 2009
  • Law clerk to the Honorable Kristine G. Baker, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
  • The Legal 500, 2023 – “Rising Star,” noted practitioner in nationally-ranked International Trade, CFIUS practice
  • The Legal 500, 2022 – “Rising Star,” noted practitioner in nationally-ranked International Trade practice
  • The Legal 500, 2021 – Noted practitioner in nationally-ranked Dispute Resolution: International Trade practice
  • American Lawyer’s Litigation Daily, April 2021 – Runner-Up Litigators of the Week
  • Arkansas
  • District of Columbia
  • Missouri
  • New York
  • Spanish

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